Do you think that the media often suggest that life for adoptees, begins with being adopted?

Possum

I think society in general are just so naive about what adoption is really all about.
They just don't get the depth of it.
That then seeps into the media - and the myths and misconceptions are constantly re-run.
For far too long - the aspect of an adoptive family getting a child that couldn't previously have one - has been the portrayed image of sunshine and rainbows.
And the image of the trashy druggies losing their children so the children can have a better life.
Far too many misconceptions are highlighted - where many facts (the loss / the need to know one's heritage) are completely glossed over (why else would so many adoptees be told by complete strangers that they should be happy they were given life!).

But how do we change them???
Many adoptees are finally speaking out - writing blogs - and on forums - but many times we're just told we're bitter and twisted - and not listened to anyway.
It's a slow slow journey to undo all the mess.

Felicita1

Yes, and referring to the adoptive parents as "THE parents", as "Respectful Adoption Language" demands, totally supports this. It implies that the child had/has NO mother and father before this point. It disregards that another set of parents is out there with connections to and history with that child.

Blame the NCFA and other groups for coming up with a media guide and sending it to all press groups to encourage this stance.

DevonChaos

Yes. I also think that this is a misconception for most people who haven't experienced adoption firsthand. There is a lineage, history, and family out there for every adopted child, and it doesn't start with the family who adopts the child.

maybe

Unfortunately the media does this very often. They assume that their life and family situation prior to adoption must have been tragic, therefore life begins anew at the time of the adoption.

kiahsobyk

I think the media don't really cover adoption and its myriad facets enough or in the kind of depth to fit into the "often suggest" part of your question. There are probably a couple of times that can be listed where a media talking head blabbed something callous about adoption; but honestly, I don't believe media writers or the population at large spend a lot of time thinking about adoption, talking to adoptees about it, generally sinking the kind of intellectual resource and time that one needs to even begin to be able to speak to or about adoption in any meaningful way.

Rowan

never really thought of it before. I suppose it could be true, but i'v never seen adoption mentioned much in the media, unless its involving Angelinas newest child.

Mei-Ling

Indeed.

Man, if I had went on here 2 years ago and witnessed the way some people on here talk about biological parents, I might have actually been convinced that my (original) parents were just mere figments of my imagination!

P.S. I'm kidding about the "figments" parts. I'm not that naive. However, I do think many people on here like to THINK of the biological parents as mere "figments"... which is due to the misconception of "real parents."

almost human

I'm not sure if it's only the media, because there's also the adoption agencies and the Christians and other charities - but yes, it has typically been suggested that kids should be adopted so they can have a new and better life.

My earliest memory was landing in America. So yes, I was born on that day. It was the first day of my new life.

I used to lay in bed and DREAM ABOUT THE PLANE TURNING AROUND but it never did. I was always aware that on that day my whole world changed forever. Aware that I wanted to go back to my old life. Maybe so shocked and grief stricken I have wiped out every memory from before that event.

I am now moving back to live in my birth country to experience my birth culture first hand. Adoption was supposed to be my new life, but really it has just been a long interruption.

Talia

YES!

And I hate it! Why? Because that's not the case!

When I was born my biological mom put me with her second cousin for the first year of my life. Then, my mom's second cousin couldn't handle me so I was put into foster care for four years in and out of various homes until I was adopted AT THE AGE OF 5!

I think that's just how it used to be. Adoptees being adopted straight from birth. But times are changing!

Serenity71

From what I have seen the media are very ignorant when it comes to adoption. They tend to like to dramatize it all. (Aust media.) I don't get the feeling they think the adoption started with the adoption itself since I rarely ever hear them mention the Adoptive parents when a celebrity is 'discovered' to have been adopted and is about the have a reunion. They're far more interested in that side of it.

Possum what about that new show "Find my Family" its focus is on reunions. Which is great for people who had sealed adoptions and incomplete records to be able to have that kind of help.

Traicionero .

I would say that begins a better life

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...and some single guys thinks that Death begins with being married

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If you are learning spanish, great! because maybe I missunderstood your question
Can you ask the question in spanish???

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